3,700 CUPE school board workers apply for conciliation

SYDNEY, NOVA SCOTIA--(Marketwired - April 5, 2013) - The union representing 3,700 school board workers across Nova Scotia says talks between seven of its locals and their employers have broken off and the union has applied for conciliation.

CUPE School Board Co-ordinator Kathy MacLeod says the Nova Scotia School Board Council of Unions (NSSBCU) representing workers. "To date, we've been unable to make sufficient progress in bargaining and believe we've reached the point where we need the assistance of a Conciliation Officer from the Department of Labour."

"We have several outstanding issues that need to be resolved before we can conclude this round of bargaining. We are hopeful that both sides will come to a negotiated settlement." says MacLeod.

Provincial bargaining on behalf of the seven locals began on January 9, 2013. The Department of Labour has appointed Conciliation Officer John Greer to assist both parties.

The NSSBCU bargains provincially on behalf of seven school boards. CUPE represents employees in every job classification, other than teachers, in the province's P-12 school system.